Politics

Overseas Chinese in U.S. should help share China story: U.S. transportation secretary Chao

It is important that overseas Chinese, especially overseas Chinese students, play a part in introducing the China story to the rest of the world, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao has said.

China has been experiencing great changes, which fascinates people from the rest of the world including the United States, said Chao in a joint interview with her father James S. C. Chao by several media organizations on the sidelines of a book-sharing event over the weekend in New York City.

It's important that Chinese students serve as ambassadors to share the China story including Chinese culture and history with others while studying abroad, thus contributing to mutual understanding, she added. Incidentally, Chao was also the first Chinese-American woman to serve in a U.S. president's cabinet.

Drawing on her own experiences, Chao noted that differences do exist between Chinese and Western cultures, citing filial piety as one of the distinctive examples.

Many Americans have a hard time understanding filial piety, a time-honored Chinese custom, she said.

She suggested overseas Chinese learn the best from the East and the West.

The book-sharing event, which featured her mother Ruth Mulan Chu Chao's biography, "Calm Amidst the Storm," was one of many events she had accompanied her father to, and was also a way to show her "filial piety," according to Chao.

Referring to the book "Calm Amidst the Storm," Chao said she hoped her family story could offer a source of inspiration and encouragement for other Chinese Americans who are trying to build their lives.

She emphasized the unique role of Chinese Americans in diversifying American culture and the international world.

"More cultures help America understand the world and help the world understand America," Chao told the audience.

"As we live in America, it is also important to retain our cultural roots," she added. Enditem